Queensland dory safety workshops come to Cooktown

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is hosting free safety workshops in Queensland next week for commercial line fishing operators and crews that use dories or tenders.

One of the workshops will take place in Cooktown on Sunday 24 of November between 10am and 1pm at the PCYC on 3 May Street, Cooktown.

Workshops will also take place in Cairns, Bowen, Mackay and Gladstone in the same week from Monday 25 to Thursday 28 November.

AMSA Operations North Manager Greg Witherall said the workshops would provide local operators and crews with a supportive environment to learn about the regulations that apply to their operations and how they could improve safety on their boats.

“These workshops are part of a broader marine safety campaign led by AMSA with support from Queensland Police Service and Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol,” Mr Witherall said.

“Dory fishing operations have developed a reputation for having a poor safety culture and that’s deeply concerning not just for AMSA as a safety regulator, but for the families of the people who work in these operations and their communities.

“There have been a number of serious incidents in recent years which show that risk-taking is unacceptably high.”

Mr Witherall said the free safety workshops, including the workshop taking place in Cooktown, had been timed to coincide with fisheries closures.

“We’re expecting full attendance by local operators and crews at these workshops,” Mr Witherall said.

“Improving the processes you have on board particularly for emergencies costs you nothing but time and that’s a small price to pay for the safety of you and your people.”